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 Speeches June 19, 2004 -- Commencement Address at the International University of Monaco March 26, 2004 -- Spring Quarter Faculty Meeting January 9, 2004 -- Winter Faculty Meeting at the Savannah College of Art and Design October 24, 2003 -- Gulfstream Center for Design Dedication at the Savannah College of Art and Design October 15, 2003 -- Mansion on Forsyth Park Groundbreaking Ceremony October 10, 2003 -- Clinard Hall Dedication October 10, 2003 -- 25th Anniversary Founders' Day Ceremony at the Savannah College of Art and Design September 15, 2003 -- Fall Faculty Meeting at the Savannah College of Art and Design August 7, 2002 -- Reflections on W.W. Law May 29, 2002 -- Earle W. Newton Center for British-American Studies Dedication Ceremony December 18, 2000 -- Sapelo Island: First African Baptist Church Rededication Ceremony October 20, 2000 -- Founders' Day at the Savannah College of Art and Design Published Titles Remember This -- Illustrated by Julie Mueller-Brown Rick and Rocky -- Illustrated by Catherine Myler Fruisen The Life Around the World Series -- Illustrated by Katherine Sandoz June 19, 2004 Commencement Address at the International University of Monaco President Crener, members of the Board of Trustees, distinguished faculty and administrators, friends and guests of the University, and - most especially - the Class of 2004, it is truly an honor and a privilege to be here with you today. Now, I've been told the question on your minds is: How did this happen? And, especially, how did this happen in Savannah? The most basic premise of success in any endeavor or business…including education…is to discern a need and then to fulfill it. SCAD began as a small enterprise, with founders who encountered many of the trials that you may have faced. One of the key ingredients to our success has been hiring excellent staff and faculty, dedicated to the mission of the college. There was never a time that anyone said, "That's not part of my job description." Of course, as one of the founders recalls, we worked half-days in the beginning-just 12 hours a day as opposed to a full 24. We were sustained almost solely by our vision for a world-class university for the arts located in the Southeast. We never stop looking for ways to better serve our clients - our students. I believe one of the deadliest tendencies for a successful endeavor is the temptation to rest on one's laurels. Instead, we continue to focus on developing and improving our product. After all, our graduates are our product, and their success is our success. We continually update our curriculum and improve our programs to better prepare our students for the marketplace. For example, this fall, bachelor's and master's degree programs in advertising design will be added to the college curriculum, and student enrollment for our SCAD e-learning program is expected to double. We also seek ways to distinguish ourselves in the marketplace of higher education. Accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and by the National Architectural Accrediting Board, SCAD has been called an "agile institution" by accrediting team visitors, indicating our ability to adapt to opportunities,… to change and grow, adding resources and academic programs as student interests and industry trends dictate. For SCAD, one distinction has been the marriage of art with technology. Our technology is second-to-none, with over 3,800 computers on campus. And no college offers all the degree programs of SCAD. And finally - perhaps the most significant words of wisdom I can share with you today - MAKE YOUR MARK. As the Savannah College of Art and Design celebrated its Silver Anniversary this academic year, the College community adopted and embraced this succinct, yet potent catchphrase as its mantra. Make your mark - do not be remembered for an existence by name alone, but rather for the impact you leave, and for the goals and feats you accomplish - big and small. I urge each of you to find your passion in life and live each day to fullest extent. Remember, though, the journey is constant. I believe one of the deadliest tendencies for any successful endeavor - in life and in business - is the temptation to rest on one's laurels. Instead, continue to focus on developing and improving your life, professionally and socially. Relish in your victories and celebrate your successes … but always reach for the new and undiscovered. Always explore. Always reinvent. When the Savannah College of Art and Design was founded 25 years ago, we did not know exactly what lay ahead. The founders simply aspired to make a contribution to Savannah and to the world of art… and most of all to our students and to their futures as artists, historians, performers, and designers. We at the Savannah College of Art and Design aspire in our work to do something meaningful for others, something that will make a difference and a lasting impression. I hope that it has, as I hope you will, too. Thank you, and best of luck to each of you in all your future endeavors! back to top March 26, 2004 Spring Quarter Faculty Meeting Good Morning. I am very happy to see all of you together as we begin a new academic quarter. As you know, I like to begin each faculty meeting with our call to action, our college mission statement: The Savannah College of Art and Design exists to prepare talented students for careers in the visual and performing arts, design, the building arts, and the history of art and architecture. The college emphasizes learning through individual attention in a positively oriented environment. Let us keep in mind as we consider this mission that the faculty is the lifeblood of the college, and I am grateful for all you do each day to teach and inspire our students. Here are just a few examples of the students' positive comments about the caring individual attention they receive at SCAD:
Our students expect the best from you, just as you expect the best from them. Remember, each day, in each of your classes, that that is the one and only time your students will take that class. You must be vigilant and guide them through both their triumphs and their trials as they strive to cultivate their unique potential. All of us continue to seek out ever-greater challenges and to scale new heights. Faculty, staff, and student accomplishments during the winter quarter were many, and we have much to look forward to as well. Here are a just a few of the highlights:
In closing, I would like to recall an inspiring quote by the psychologist Carl Jung: "An understanding heart is everything in a teacher…One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul."
back to top January 9, 2004 Winter Faculty Meeting at the Savannah College of Art and Design Good morning. It is great to see all of you here together as we begin our winter quarter. I hope that each one of you had a productive, rejuvenating break and that you are ready to begin your important work of this term — educating our clients, our students. The Savannah College of Art and Design is known for its culture of caring. We care especially for our students -- as prospective students before they arrive, as undergraduate or graduate students while they are studying here, and as alumni after they graduate. In my job, I have a number of pen pals -- some evolve into donors, students or employees here, others simply share our love of art. Not long ago, I received a letter from a young man who lives in the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, not too far from Hawaii. In spite of many hardships, he aspires to be an artist. With his letter, he enclosed the only existing photograph of his late father, a rather stern looking black and white picture made when his father was a young man. My pen pal made a poignant request: that someone at SCAD use the picture as a reference to create a digital image of his father, smiling, as he would have looked at the age he died (61). I couldn’t personally fulfill this wish, but during his holiday, Professor Tan Tascioglu agreed to take on this project, creating an image that will serve as a smiling reminder of the father my pen pal lost. Tan’s generous spirit, and the memento he created, which means so much to a young man who has very little, is exemplary of our giving faculty, who share knowledge and kindness so unselfishly each day. This morning, I would also like to offer a reminder of our overarching purpose, our college mission statement: The Savannah College of Art and Design exists to prepare talented students for careers in the visual and performing arts, design, the building arts, and the history of art and architecture. The college emphasizes learning through individual attention in a positively oriented environment. This positive atmosphere cultivated by our faculty permeates every facet of our college community, and I believe it is what truly distinguishes SCAD from other institutions of higher learning. In thinking about an inspiring, positively oriented art and design education, and the life-altering, transformative process that students undergo during their time here at the college, an ancient Hawaiian folktale comes to mind:
To me, this story is an eloquent illustration of the tremendous responsibility each one of us has as a conscientious educator. While some other prominent colleges and universities may view students as vessels to be filled with relevant information, at SCAD we recognize that each one of our students already possesses his or her own perfect, yet fragile inner light. It is our job to cultivate and protect this precious gift, removing stones of trepidation, doubt and frustration and replacing them with confidence, an empowering sense of self-worth and true joy for one’s chosen vocation. Certainly, all of us want each SCAD alumna or alumnus to enter his or her profession with not only the skills and knowledge to succeed, but also with the self-assurance to let their lights shine. Speaking of light, this Silver Anniversary year has already taken on a special glow. The following are some of the highlights: Our quarter-century celebration began with Founders’ Day on October 10, which was a terrific success. I want to sincerely thank all of you who helped make it such a memorable occasion. Highlights of the festivities included the presentation of the Pepe Award to philanthropist Anne Peeler West; the Outstanding Alumna Award to interior designer Paula O’Callaghan; the Outstanding Alumnus Award to CGI innovator Nickson Fong; and achievement pins to longtime SCAD employees. Founders’ Day also featured the unveiling of a marvelous new bee-and-honeycomb wall sculpture by Professor Ed Barbier, the cutting of a 25-foot birthday cake created by SCAD alumna Karen McVay Butch, and the dedication of Clinard Hall. I would also like to sincerely thank those of you who assisted with the building dedications for Morris Hall and the Gulfstream Center for Design. The Gulfstream Center, of course, features a beautiful commemorative carved brick wall created by Professor Yves Paquette and SCAD students. As part of the Gulfstream festivities, the college invited Horacio Pagani, one of the world’s premier high-end auto designers, to travel from Italy to give a lecture at Trustees Theater. Only two of Pagani’s elite supercars, the Zonda C12 S, exist in the U.S. One of them was on display at SCAD for the lecture, and during his visit Pagani held a demonstration for students of the car’s capabilities at the racetrack on Hutchinson Island. We are currently following up on opportunities for future collaboration between Pagani and SCAD. The sixth annual film festival was covered in Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Women’s Wear Daily, the New York Post and the New York Daily News. In addition, four French journalists traveled to Savannah for this special event, and, as a result, articles about the festival appeared in several French magazines. In other exciting media news, the New York Times recently spotlighted our Hermès scarves on the Currents page of their House & Home section. The scarves, designed by SCAD alumnae Rachael Knight and Marilyn Grace Glastetter and printed by Hermès, are currently available for purchase in shopSCAD. This fall, I attended the Atlanta unveiling of the logo for the G-8 Summit, which will be held June 8-10 on Sea Island, as well as the logo unveiling for the Host Committee by Governor Perdue. SCAD students designed both these logos, and the college plans to be actively involved in other facets of this high-profile event, including sponsoring an exhibition of work by SCAD community members in conjunction with this elite international summit. We have a lot to look forward to this quarter, including a myriad of intriguing and innovative exhibitions: A Red Gallery exhibition showcasing work by SCAD illustration faculty, students and other artists created as part of a yearlong collaboration with the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, opens this week. The show, titled “We Hear You, Georgia,” runs through January 27, and was the brainchild of our beloved and brilliant illustration chair, Traci Haymans. From January 15 to February 13, the Pei Ling Chan Gallery will feature an exhibition of Patricio Castilla’s paintings. Castilla, a native of Chile, is an internationally renowned artist and the longtime companion of actress Geraldine Chaplin, who, as you may remember, visited the college during the 2002 Film Festival. Also in January, an exhibit of African-American quilts from the Robert and Helen Cargo Collection will open in Pinnacle Gallery. A lecture by Carolyn Ducey, curator of the International Quilt Study Center, will be held in Pinnacle Gallery on January 28. On February 19, world-renowned fibers artist and sculptor Magdalena Abakanowicz will lecture in Trustees Theater. Abakanowicz’s works are featured in prominent collections throughout the world, and I encourage you and your students to attend what will surely be a fascinating presentation. In addition, an exhibition of Abakanowicz’s work will be on display in the Pei Ling Chan Gallery from February 20 to April 13. Of course, one of the highlights of the academic year, the SCAD Scholarship Gala, is coming up on January 17. Each year, this festive event features fine cuisine, live entertainment and a silent auction that financially supports needy, talented students. In recognition of the college’s 25th anniversary, the theme for the 2004 Gala is, most appropriately, “silver.” The B-52’s concert on January 23 is another exciting event headlining this month’s calendar. The legendary pop band is performing in Trustees Theater as a complement to our Georgia Music Hall of Fame exhibition. Today, most importantly, I want to express my sincere gratitude to each one of you. None of SCAD’s achievements would have been possible without its people, especially the faculty who guide our students so well. Thanks to your committed efforts, this remarkable university, which began 25 years ago with an initial spark, will continue to spread its light around the world for years to come. Best wishes for a rewarding and inspiring winter quarter. back to top October 24, 2003 Gulfstream Center for Design Dedication at the Savannah College of Art and Design Art-making -- often a solitary pursuit -- also frequently benefits from a team approach. Words floating throughout this building motivate and illustrate the creative process that occurs daily in the Gulfstream Center for Design. Here, students postulate their theories, guided by faculty who stimulate their imaginations, cultivate their unique potential and mediate a fruitful dialogue. Designers deviate from the expected, elucidate their point of view and liberate themselves and others from convention. As our talented students, led by their inspirational faculty, work together in the Gulfstream Center for Design, they collaborate, as in a true professional setting, creating the best -- the best work, the best graduates. It’s not surprising that this atmosphere has already proven so invigorating. Each day, aspiring designers study, learn, work, think, and create in a building that reveals its origins as an industrial space. This is a real-world environment, and students are given the opportunity to produce real, working designs in state-of-the-art labs. As Victor Ermoli, chair of the industrial design department said, “This exceptional new facility combines state-of-art technology with a true industrial feel, providing our students with the ability to innovate and create.” And, as Steve Thurston, chair of the furniture design department, put it, “Housing the furniture and industrial design departments together in a shared working environment promotes productive collaboration.” This daily exchange of ideas, techniques, technologies and philosophies will surely inspire our students and faculty to reach even greater heights. Postulate, stimulate, cultivate, mediate, deviate, elucidate, liberate and collaborate are active verbs reflecting the intellectual and artistic journey of an idea from conception to realization. I have no doubt that this new home for two dynamic departments will germinate thoughtful, innovative results for years to come. I would like to express gratitude, on behalf of the entire Savannah College of Art and Design community, to our wonderful friends at Gulfstream Aerospace whose support here at the college makes dreams come true. I’d like to thank Vice President for Institutional Advancement Barry Buxton and his team for working so productively with everyone at Gulfstream to accomplish great things. I’d also like to congratulate Vice President for Physical Resources Glenn Wallace and his team on a job well done. Glenn is an alumnus of SCAD, and he takes great pride in creating stunning environments for our students. This new building is turned out in true SCAD style, and I know that the work that is done here will live up to the building’s auspicious name and the tradition of excellence established by graduates of the furniture design and industrial design departments. back to top October 15, 2003 Mansion on Forsyth Park Groundbreaking Ceremony I am delighted to be here today on this most auspicious occasion. When I met Richard, Martha, Laura, and Mark Kessler last December, I knew right away that we would become great friends. Richard told me about his exciting plans to develop this property into the Mansion on Forsyth Park, and we discussed the possibilities for collaboration between the Savannah College of Art and Design and the Kessler Enterprise, organizations that share a number of common attributes:
On behalf of the Savannah College of Art and Design, I congratulate Richard Kessler on his creative vision and dynamic leadership by example, and sincerely thank him for returning to his native city to undertake this magnificent project. Robert Frost, perhaps tongue in cheek, said, "Good fences make good neighbors," but I say, "Good friendships make good neighbors." And I can certainly tell you that Savannah has no better friend than Richard Kessler. Richard, welcome to the neighborhood! back to top October 10, 2003 Clinard Hall Dedication Writer Marianne Williamson once observed, "In every community there is work to be done…. In every heart there is the power to do it." Over the many years I have known her, Sue Ellen Clinard has exemplified this selfless philosophy. I first met Susie, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1980, when she stopped by the gallery in Poetter -- then Preston -- Hall to inquire about attending the Savannah College of Art and Design. After learning of her dual interest in architecture and art history, I encouraged Susie to consider the college's historic preservation program. She enrolled as an undergraduate student that fall. To pay her expenses, Susie worked as a college staff member. In fact, she was the first staff member employed by the founders and was the college's first registrar. At the beginning of each quarter, Susie planned the college's entire class schedule, and at the end of each quarter, Susie recorded the grades and calculated the GPAs on each and every transcript. She also organized events, including the inaugural graduation ceremony, for one person, in 1981; arranged the college's first overseas trip to England; and founded the Sidewalk Arts Festival. Back then, as we built a world-class art and design college, every minute, every second counted. Most importantly, every person counted. Anyone who was hapless enough to find herself here ended up doing a little bit of everything. Susie worked during the day, went to classes at night, and somehow managed to fit in homework and projects, graduating in 1983 as the valedictorian of her class. When Susie told me that she had accepted a position as program manager of the Main Street Historic Preservation Program in Georgetown, Texas, I greeted the news with immense joy. It was the perfect opportunity for her, and a positive reflection upon the value of a Savannah College of Art and Design education. Not surprisingly, she was soon appointed director of the Main Street Program for the entire state of Oklahoma. Susie's exemplary leadership in this capacity garnered accolades and acclaim throughout the state. Her efforts resulted in hundreds of successful historic preservation projects, generating new jobs and new businesses. Susie remained in close contact during the years that she lived in Oklahoma, and in 1994, she joined the college's Board of Trustees. As a Trustee, she provided unique insights based upon her experiences as a student as well as her professional experiences. She took a keen interest in literally every facet of her alma mater. Luckily for SCAD, Susie and her husband Harley eventually relocated to Savannah and accepted jobs at the college. Susie and Harley do everything as a team, and they do everything wholeheartedly. Susie was charged with the tremendously challenging role of Dean of Special Programs -- a role she performed with her usual energy, creativity, and legendary organization. She oversaw an impressive array of responsibilities, including events, galleries, Trustees Theater programming, tours, and workshops for the public. Today, of course, she is the Savannah College of Art and Design Vice President for Human Resources. Nothing is more important in delivering our mission than assuring that our students learn from and are served by the very finest faculty and staff. The Human Resources Department does just that. Each day, in this building, Susie and her stellar Human Resources team recruit, orient, and welcome new faculty and staff from around the globe. She supervises our extensive benefits program as well as faculty and staff development. She sits on my President's Cabinet, always contributing imaginative ideas and delving insights. Susie is also a gifted artist, as evidenced by the popularity of her work, which uniquely blends vivid colors with images of American icons. Anyone who knows Susie knows that she collects watermelons -- well, that really is an understatement if you have ever seen her collection, which hardly leaves room anywhere for Harley. Speaking of Harley, it is thanks to Susie that we have the finest Vice President for Information Management and Technology that any college could wish for. I am grateful indeed that I met Susie Clinard 23 years ago. I am also grateful for her innumerable contributions to our college community -- including the donations she has quietly made over the years. Her generosity has contributed to the magnificence of the Pei Ling Chan Garden for the Arts, which features an exquisite section dedicated in her mother's honor. And her selfless giving has fulfilled dreams through her establishment of the Make a Difference Scholarship, awarded to a deserving historic preservation major each year. But, of course, Sue Ellen Clinard would be the last person to tell you any of this. Her humility, her grace, and her caring nature have truly been a blessing in our lives. This 1872 Italianate structure, with arched stone lintels, bracketed cornice, and two-story porch, seems to reflect Susie's gentle strength, determined spirit, and dedication to historic preservation perfectly. It has style and presence. When I see this building, it says "Susie" to me. It is classic, elegant, enduring … and it occupies an important place in Savannah, just as Susie does at SCAD. We are proud to call this magnificent new home of the Human Resources Department Clinard Hall. back to top October 10, 2003 25th Anniversary Founders' Day Ceremony at the Savannah College of Art and Design In Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass, Alice asserts, "There's no use trying … one can't believe impossible things." The White Queen briskly replies, "I daresay you haven't had much practice." Today, on October 10, 2003, we have had practice. We honor those who believed in the impossible, transforming a modest but bold idea into a world-renowned international university for the arts. During this silver anniversary celebration, it is timely to recall an extraordinary twenty-five-year journey -- a journey of tremendous challenges and gratifying achievement, occasional sorrow and profound joy. Throughout this momentous, life-altering adventure, the Savannah College of Art and Design has assiduously adhered to its fundamental mission of preparing talented students for careers. To ensure the continued success of this worthwhile goal, we strive to reach new heights, meticulously building our programs and resources, one step at a time. This college has always exemplified quality … but also spontaneity, and an ability and willingness to respond, to adapt, to change … without changing the basic character of the institution. One permanent aspect of the college is the quality of its people. From around the world, they have come to Savannah as pioneers, laying a solid foundation for future generations. The fact that the work of a first-year student was accepted into the 25th anniversary exhibition, across the street at the Red Gallery, alongside the work of accomplished faculty and alumni, is illustrative of the inclusivity and culture of caring which this institution represents. Each person is valued -- friends of the college, donors, board members, students, alumni, faculty, staff, parents of students, former teachers of our students -- and the contributions of each person are valuable to the ongoing life and legacy of the institution. This inclusivity has always been important to the college, and it is my firm belief that this embracing philosophy has been greatly responsible for our success. The theme for this 2003-2004 silver anniversary year is "Making Our Mark." There are several reasons for choosing this theme.
At the Savannah College of Art and Design, we've had a good deal of practice believing, and, most importantly, doing impossible things. I expect we'll continue. back to top September 15, 2003 Fall Faculty Meeting at the Savannah College of Art and Design Good morning -- I am very happy to see all of you here together as we begin a brand-new academic year. As many of you know, I like to begin each faculty meeting with our call to action, our college mission statement: "The Savannah College of Art and Design exists to prepare talented students for careers in the visual and performing arts, design, the building arts, and the history of art and architecture. The college emphasizes learning through individual attention in a positively oriented environment." In thinking about how we might best fulfill our mission, for the benefit of our clients, our students, a poem by the British writer Christopher Logue comes to mind:
Students arrive at the Savannah College of Art and Design with extraordinary talent and enormous potential, yet they are not always aware of their own possibilities. As educators, we have this dual responsibility: to nurture our fledging students, assuaging their concerns and cultivating their abilities, while also challenging them to take that step to the edge, beyond their perceived boundaries. Our international university for the arts depends upon each one of its faculty. You give our students wings, and you push them to fly. As the academic year begins, I look to our sterling faculty as key leaders within our college community. I hope and expect that you will provide our students with not only the finest artistic and academic instruction, but with guidance and insights into other facets of their lives, such as character, work ethic and commitment to global and social responsibility. There are many resources at the college to assist students, and I depend on you to be aware of these resources and advise your students appropriately. And always remember -- each day, in each one of your classes, that is the one and only time your students will experience that class. Give each day and each student your all, and make each class count. As we enter our 25th year, with gratitude to everyone who has contributed mightily to our first quarter century and with high expectations for our future together, the historical fact of a silver anniversary suggests analogies between this precious metal and the college itself:
The Savannah College of Art and Design: malleable, reflective, valuable and strong. Welcome to our jubilee year. back to top August 7, 2002 Reflections on W.W. Law Speech delivered at the memorial service for civil rights activist W.W. Law He was a man of letters. Yes, a letter carrier, but also one who thought deeply, read widely, spoke authoritatively and wrote (by hand) with elegance and style. The arts came as naturally to him as a mother's love comes to her son. Indeed, Westley Wallace Law often quoted, in reference to his dear mother, Geneva Wallace Law, the evocative poem by Langston Hughes, entitled "Mother to Son." He especially loved the line that read, "Life for me ain't been no crystal stair." I first met Dr. Law when I asked for his help in 1979. I called upon him with a request to refer potential faculty for employment and soon received well-qualified candidates whom he referred. Our next interaction was a meeting in which Dr. Law recommended to me a gifted photographer, Edmund Marshall, for an exhibition at the college. Dr. Law saw to it, in his inimitable way, that Edmund's one-man show in 1979 was the most well-attended exhibit in our early years. By then, we were fast friends, and we thereafter worked together on many projects over the years. I have to add that virtually all of those were projects of Dr. Law's devising. Even had I been inclined to resist -- which I wasn't -- Dr. Law was not a man who took "no" for an answer. His commitment to the arts was deep and abiding. He saw the arts not only as a reflection of the human condition but also as a vehicle for education, communication and inspiration, as a way to express talent and honor achievement. He loved visual and performing arts, founding the Black Heritage Festival as a joyful celebration. Dr. Law had decided that the Beach Institute, which in 1867 became the first school in Savannah for African-American children, should -- and would -- become a museum and cultural center. So when the Savannah College of Art and Design bought four discarded school buildings in 1988, one of those, now the Beach Institute African-American Cultural Center, was given by the college to the King-Tisdell Cottage Foundation. That truly was "the gift that kept on giving," because I was soon enlightened by Dr. Law that the building needed painting ... and construction work ... and new windows ... and the college surely wouldn't want to give away a building in such bad condition. Actually, I found that when craftsmen and artisans were asked to work on Dr. Law's building, they did so with a glad heart, because of the true admiration and respect which were universally accorded to this man of letters, Westley Wallace Law. It was also Dr. Law's vision that the Beach Institute should own the works of renowned sculptor and Savannah native, Ulysses Davis. And Dr. Law's vision was not confined to the cerebral. He was an intellectual person but also a man of action. He made things happen, and thanks to him, and others he inspired, Savannah retained not only the Beach Institute, but also the conceptually provocative and artistically iconic works of Ulysses Davis. As most of you know, Dr. Law did not drive. He walked -- literally and figuratively going places under his own steam. During the Hurricane Floyd evacuation of Savannah in 1999, Dr. Law was spotted patiently sitting and waiting to be evacuated at the Civic Center. When he was invited to join our college staff and residence hall students on our bus headed to Macon, he accepted, regaling the other passengers for the entire trip with anecdotes and insights. I don't doubt that students learned more on that bus ride than they had in some class sessions. A man of letters who loved art and artists, this impromptu "History in a Hurricane" lesson is but one example of Dr. Law's unstinting generosity in sharing his comprehensive knowledge on many subjects with others. Dr. Law often applied artistic analogies to make a point. "If you want to be a part of the picture," he said, "you have to get inside the frame." He employed art, especially the power of photography, to express visual history, such as the rich heritage of West Broad Street, at the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum. As a historian, he created three museums that were museums of memory as well as museums intended to inspire future generations. He was instrumental in commissioning a painting to commemorate the Savannah meeting in which the famous "Forty Acres and a Mule" promise was made and later directed the publication of an educational poster on the same subject. Proceeds from the sale of this poster will fund the placement of monuments at 10 important African-American sites in Savannah. So his legacy continues. In recognition of Westley Wallace Law's personal history of professional accomplishments, he was awarded his first honorary doctoral degree by the Savannah College of Art and Design in 1997. The citation read, in part, "A man of great courage, wisdom, and vision, W.W. Law can resoundingly be called Savannah's hero." I know today he has ascended that crystal stair. Westley Wallace Law, gentleman and scholar, Savannah's hero, a man of letters. back to top May 29, 2002 Earle W. Newton Center for British-American Studies Dedication Ceremony
When the Savannah College of Art and Design acquired the three-story Greek revival building in 1990, its splendor had been dimmed by mistreatment and neglect. The college's in-house architectural, construction and design staff team worked painstakingly to eliminate the building's structural problems and to preserve and restore its stunning decorative elements, which include portico ceiling paintings with a scalloped shell design, gold leaf and flower motifs, and a large ceiling medallion on the second floor. This historic building now provides a fitting home for the college's Newton Center for British-American Studies, which was founded in 2001 through the inspiration of Earle W. Newton, Ph.D. His generous donation of art, antiquarian books, maps and reference materials forms the core of the center's academic and research resources. The college is truly blessed to be the recipient of the Newton Collection's many treasures, which include portrait paintings by Sir Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough, Joseph Wright of Derby, John Smibert and Sir Anthony Van Dyck. The collection features the only known portrait by Gilbert Stuart of his young wife, as well as numerous prints and paintings by William Hogarth, one of the most important of British artists. Paintings in the Newton Collection by Hogarth include A Gentleman in Blue, Portrait of Gustavus Hamilton, 2nd Viscount Boyne and Lady in Rose Taffeta, which is thought to depict Hogarth's sister Anne. An early Georgian townhouse in Horncastle, England, is another highlight of Dr. Newton's gift. The structure is being renovated as a study abroad center where students, alumni and faculty can experience rural England. The aim of the Newton Center is to encourage the study of the history and culture of Great Britain and the United States, as well as to inspire new research and creative endeavors. The Center will sponsor a continuing calendar of lectures, visiting scholars, internships, exhibitions, special events and projects, and interdisciplinary courses. Students in many of the college's historic preservation, museum studies and art history courses have already used the collection, and, in the future, the Center's materials will enhance study in English literature, British and American history, and drama of the period. For years to come, faculty and students of the college will benefit from the Center's rich and varied resources. Dr. Newton, thank you for your extraordinary generosity. Your priceless gift is truly the definition of a dream-come-true for any college president. It is now my pleasure to introduce Michael Charles Bates, British Consul General in Atlanta, who has been kind enough to join us today. Consul General Bates has had an illustrious career in the British Diplomatic Service, with assignments in New Delhi, Moscow, Singapore, Brussels, Riga, Bratislava and Bombay. He has also worked in prominent capacities at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. Please join me in giving Consul General Bates and Mrs. Janice Bates a very warm SCAD and Savannah welcome. back to top December 18, 2000 Sapelo Island: First African Baptist Church Rededication Ceremony
I have to say, growing up as a Baptist, that I really miss something on the program, though, because there's no offertory, so we'll need to come back and do this again. I vividly recall my first visit here, which was about a year ago, when my friend Willie Mae Robinson showed me around the island. I was doing some research for a children's book, and she showed me Behavior Cemetery and she showed me the lighthouse and she showed me Nanny Goat Beach and the Toothache Tree, but I have to say what stuck in my mind the most was my visit to this very church. When we walked in here, it was open to the elements, and we wondered where we might step, but we came on in, and light was streaming through these stained glass windows. It was a wonderful experience. Willie Mae started singing, and I asked her what she saw in here. She said she saw her mother singing in the choir. I asked her what she was singing, and she said "Precious Lord," so we sang that song, and we sang "Jacob's Ladder," too, all the verses. That really stuck out in my mind as a very, very important event, and I just vowed that I would help. So Willie Mae introduced me to Ben Hall and Carolyn Dowse and lots of other people, all of these dedicated people who came together to make this happen. I'd like to recognize the people from Sapelo Island, the residents who really worked on the church renovations. If you'll stand for just a moment. People who are here from Sapelo who worked on the renovation and had a hand in it, thank you so much. And all of the Savannah College of Art and Design staff and students, we are on official break right now between fall and winter quarters, but I know some were able to come, and I'd like to ask you to stand. And SICARS took a lead in this and really was very important in making this happen. Will the SICARS people please stand? I also want to recognize several of the Savannah College of Art and Design board members who are here: Marc Little, who flew all the way from Los Angeles to give us a gift of music; May and Paul Poetter, who are founders of the Savannah College of Art and Design; Tom Crites, who donated our beautiful rugs from his personal collection; and I would just like to ask Willie Mae Robinson to stand. And now it is my pleasure to introduce our guest speaker. Aren't we fortunate to have a governor in Georgia who boldly approached educational reform and really cares about the citizens of our state, as evidenced by his personal involvement in this project and being here with us today. He first served in our state senate, serving on the judiciary committee and as a senate floor leader, and he also served the state in the House of Representatives, and then was elected our 80th governor in 1999. I understand he started in the state senate at the age of 26. He's already had many accomplishments as governor, instituting a transportation super agency and healthcare reform legislation to ensure the rights of patients and also, of course, the Educational Reform Act, which really gives control back to the parents, teachers and principals in the schools, and we all appreciate that. He listens to the concerns and the needs of the people of Georgia and not only listens, he acts, and he acts to make things happen, and I think we all see the evidence of that today. He works diligently for the better future of all Georgia citizens and really embraces the Jeffersonian principle that government officials are servants of the people. It's my great privilege and honor to present to you now Governor Roy E. Barnes. back to top October 20, 2000 Presidential Investiture, Founders' Day at the Savannah College of Art and Design Thank you to all of you who have come with us to celebrate the turning of a page in the history of the Savannah College of Art and Design. First of all, I would like to recognize the members of my family who are present today: my parents, May and Paul Poetter; my sister, Pamela Poetter; and my daughter, Marisa Rowan. Also, I would like to recognize the Trustees of the Savannah College of Art and Design who were able to join us: Pattie Clotfelter, Bill Grainger, Diane Wahrman ... I would like to thank our elected officials who could attend, community friends, and, of course, students, employees and alumni from our college family who are here. I would especially like to recognize the Founders' Day Committee members who planned all of today's events. Committee members, would you stand? None of us would be here today without the efforts of all who came before. And on Founders' Day, especially, we honor all the founders and particularly those first 71 students who were truly pioneers. As we look at the college today ... the largest and best art and design college in the world, with so many accolades to our credit ... it is sometimes hard to remember what things were like before. Before we were accredited, before our students designed and built their own car ... before the first computer was ever installed. Truly, we have much to be thankful for -- and I am thankful to all of you who have helped me along the way. There have been hard times, deep anguish and great challenges in creating and growing an international university for the arts of this magnitude. Now we begin a new chapter, we turn the page to embark on even greater days that lie ahead. I am inspired by the words of African statesman and human rights icon Nelson Mandela, and I quote from his 1994 inaugural address as the first black president of South Africa: Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fears, our presence automatically liberates others. My challenge today to our students, faculty, staff, alumni and many friends is to let your light shine. Together we form a brilliant galaxy called the Savannah College of Art and Design. back to top
by Paula S. Wallace Illustrated by Julie Mueller-Brown (Design Press) $12.95 / Hardcover / ISBN: 0-9654682-5-9 9 x 13 inches, 32 pages, Children The story of Maria, a brave Mayan girl, and her magical night of discovery deep in the Guatemalan rain forest. back to top
by Paula S. Wallace Illustrated by Catherine Myler Fruisen (Cedco Publishing) $12.95 / Hardcover / ISBN: 0-7683-2175-1 8 x 9 inches, 32 pages, Children Rick and his cat Rocky are a mischievous duo who love to have fun. But what happens when good friends fight? back to top The Life Around the World series The Life Around the World series examines an intriguing variety of customs and traditions in 10 different countries across the globe, describing how the world celebrates birthdays and holidays, plays games and cooks feasts. With vivid photographs and illustrations, fascinating facts and appealing activities, this dynamic series will excite readers to travel the world through books. The World of Birthdays ISBN: 0-8368-3659-6 The World of Holidays ISBN: 0-8368-3661-8 The World of Sports ISBN: 0-8368-3662-6 The World of Food ISBN: 0-8368-3660-X by Paula S. Wallace Illustrated by Katherine Sandoz (Gareth Stevens) $23.94 / Hardcover Library Books 9 x 9 inches, 32 pages, Children
All titles are available through Design Press Books, a division of the Savannah College of Art and Design. To order, please call 912.525.5212 or 888.524.8798.  |
